Ground Turkey Taco Salad For Two

When you are wanting to make a meal that is both healthy and delicious, without requiring hours of your time, this Ground Turkey Taco Salad is your answer. A simple yet delicious dish that is quick and easy to prepare.

Ground turkey is cooked with diced onions, red and green bell peppers while simmering in a classic taco seasoning. Then sweet corn kernels get added to the mix for a pop of color and crunchy texture.

Once the mixture is cooked and the liquid has disappeared it is time to assemble the salad. The meat and veggies get piled on a bed of chopped lettuce.

Then drained blacked beans, shredded cheese, salsa, sour cream and any other taco toppings that you enjoy get added. What you are left with is a satisfying lunch or an easy weeknight dinner recipe that is full of flavor.

It is a great recipe to prepare when you are trying to eat healthier, when you are wanting to lose a few pounds, or if you are simply looking for a quick, easy, and delicious meal.

In addition this recipe is extremely versatile and you can add or remove any items that you prefer. For instance if you are on a low-carb diet you can simply omit the sweet corn and beans.

Or if you aren’t worried about counting carbs add tortilla strips, diced avocados, pico de gallo and cilantro for added flavor and texture. The variety of ingredients that you use are totally up to you!

What Type of Ground Turkey To Use For Taco Salad

When it comes to purchasing ground turkey you have a couple of options. You can use lean ground turkey for a low-fat option.

However for a bit more flavor you can purchase dark meat ground turkey. I prefer to use this type of ground turkey when making my Ground Turkey Butternut Squash recipe, Grilled Turkey Burgers and also for this recipe. Just remember, unlike ground beef, you will need to add oil to the pan so that it doesn’t stick while it browns.

Taco Seasoning

When it comes to taco seasoning, you will need half a packet of your preferred store-bought seasoning. However, because I use taco seasoning quite a bit in my cooking, I purchase it in a large plastic jar instead of packets.

In that case you will need two tablespoons of the dry seasoning. Feel free to switch up the flavor of the seasoning by purchasing a mild or spicy mix to give you the flavor that you prefer.

What To Put In A Ground Turkey Taco Salad

This recipe calls for some staple taco salad ingredients: ground meat, onions, peppers, sweet corn, lettuce, black beans, and cheddar cheese. But as mentioned above the beauty of this dish is that you can add almost anything you like!

Here are some other possible additions that you can included in your ground turkey taco salad:

• diced tomatoes
• diced jalapeños
• avocado slices
• olives
• guacamole
• diced cilantro
• salsa
• sour cream
• tortilla strips
• tortilla chips
• or serve it in a tortilla bowl

How To Make Your Own Tortilla Strips

Although adding tortilla strips to the ground turkey taco salad is a great option for added flavor and crunch, many of us don’t need an entire large bag of these crunchy strips sitting in our pantry. Instead, it is best to make your own tortilla strips.

Simply cut a few corn or flour tortillas into thin strips. Then toss them in a bit of oil and sprinkle with salt.

Bake them in a preheated oven or in an air fryer until crispy. You’ll have a delicious, crunchy topping ready in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can this recipe be made ahead of time?

Although it only takes 15 minutes to make this meal, you can do a few things in order to get this meal on the table even faster. Start by cooking the ground turkey and vegetables in the seasoning. Then let it cool and store in an air tight container.

Then drain the beans and put them in another air tight container and cut the lettuce and place the pieces in a resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the ground turkey taco salad.

2. Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey?

Absolutely. Just be sure to add oil to the pan before cooking the ground turkey to prevent sticking.

3. Can I just toss everything together instead of lining up the ingredients?

Although the presentation is more visually appealing when you line the ingredients on the bed of lettuce, you can definitely toss the ingredients together.

The key here is to let the ground turkey cool a bit before assembling so that the heat of the meat mixture doesn’t wilt the lettuce.

Ground Turkey Taco Salad For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 lb. ground turkey
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix (1/2 packet)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels
• 1/2 head small iceberg lettuce
• 1 cup black beans, drained
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional Toppings:

• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Cilantro
• Tortilla strips or crushed Nacho Cheese Chips

INSTRUCTIONS

Place a medium size skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the pan and once hot, add the ground turkey.

Cook until the half of the meat is no longer pink and then add the diced onions, red and green bell peppers to the skillet. Continue to cook, breaking up the meat until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through.

Next add the taco seasoning, water and corn to the skillet. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens (approximately 3-4 minutes). Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.

Ground Turkey Taco Salad Assembly Instructions:

Wash the lettuce and pat it dry. On a clean cutting board chop to the desired consistency. Divide the lettuce between two large, shallow bowls.

Next divide the meat mixture into two (or desired portion sizes) and place in the two bowls on top of the lettuce. Add half of the drained black beans to each bowl then sprinkle the cheese next to or over top of the entire dish.

Add salt, pepper and/or red pepper flakes to taste. Garnish each bowl with additional toppings as desired.

Enjoy! Mary

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